Cushion seat and the like



Filed May 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuzntoz flfl/P/PV 04/-,

\k? M EQM Nov. 22, 1932. H. E. woLF CUSHION SEAT AND THE LIKE Filed May 51, 1929 Patented Nov- NITED STATES PATENT orrrca HARRY E. WOLF, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FORT PITT BEDDHIG COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CUSHION SEAT Application filed May 31,

This invention relates to cushion seats and the like; and it comprises a cushion seat having upper and lower border frames, a cover advantageously substantially impervious to air, embracing the frames'and secured thereto, a metallic bottom plate member secured tothe lower frame and springs inside the cover supported at their lower ends by the i metallic plate and attached at their upper ends to the upper border frame, together, ad-

vantageously, with means for restrictlng the flow of air from the interior of the cushion seat'upon sudden shock tending to collapse the seat a ainst the action of the springs; al

as more ully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

It has been proposed, in the art to which this invention relates, to provide cushion seats and the like with closed bottoms to produce an air cushion effect to assist the cushioning effect of the springsbut usuall the bottoms of such'seats are made of abrlc which is quickly worn out by rubbing against a seat support and which is likely to become punctured in handling. It has also been proposed to provide wooden bases for the seats'but these are relatively expensive and somewhat complicated in construction.

Among other objects of my invention is the PIOVlSlOIl of a relatively inexpensive yet strong and durable seat which can be used for automobiles, and particularly for trucks, and

the provision of an lmproved cushion seat in which air may be trapped and gradually released to assist the cushioning effect of the spring.

In accordance with my invention I pro-.

vide the usual upper border frame with the usual padding and a lower border frame to which is clamped or otherwise secured the lower end of the upholstery or covering, and I provide a bottom supporting member for the springs which consists of a metallic plate, preferably reinforced, and which may be either an integral part of the lower border frame or securely attached thereto. This bottom member or plate resists wear and puncture and greatly increases the strength and ri idity of the lower border frame. Through the provision of such a bottom plate AND THE LIKE 1929. Serial No. 867,344.

member the usual cross bars may be eliminated andthe bottom of the cushion may be entirely enclosed to form together with'the bottom view of the assembled 1 taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the seat frame;

Figs. 6 and 7 are bottom plan views of seat bottoms showing various arrangements of the stren hening ribs;

Fig. 8 18 a fragmentary bottom plan view showing a modified form of seat bottom;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view through the lower border frame showing a modified form of the lower border frame. 7

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a lower border frame which is advantageously of sheet metal and which has outside wall 2 and an inside wall or turned head 3 spaced therefrom. The upper portion of the outside wall is indicated by reference numeral 4. The metallic plate member 5 which forms the bottom of the seat is positioned within the lower border frame with the downwardly turnedleg 14 resting between the outside wall 2 of-the frame and the turned bead portion 3. In assembling the bead portion 3 is pressed against the leg 14 locking it securely against the wall 2, and the top portion 4 is bent over to securely lock the plate frame and the lower 8 are passed through holes 7 in the supporting ribs 6. The tops of the springs 8 are connected to the upper border frame 10 and to each other by means of clips 9. The various memhers thus assembled produce a spring assem blage. To complete the cushion padding 11 is placed over the springs and this padding 13. ,Fig. 2 illustrates one example of the fin ished structure. A seat so assembled is, as

stated, exceptionally strong and durable and is able to withstand the most violent shocks to which a seat in automobiles and trucks is subjected. The springs exert a normal cushioning eflect and this is au mented by the entrapped air which can on y escape through the holes 7 in the ribs 6 of the lower plate. Should additional means for escape of air be needed the plate may be perforated as is indicated at 18, or a suitable vent may be made in a side wall of the fabric. Should additional reinforcement be required for the bottom plate, strengthening ribs 20 may be arran ed as shown in Figs. '1, 6 and 7 In ig.-3 there is shown one way of securing the plate member 5 to the lower border frame 1. The turned down leg 14:. rests between the outside wall 2 and the head 3 of the lower border frame and the parts are pressed together by means of a suitable tool. However various types of construction may be used. In Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown a modified construction in which a channel 15' I is formed adjacent the periphery of the botconstruction a modified clamp 13' is used.

tom sup ort 5. The top portion 4 of the outside wal 2 of the plate member is pressed down into this channel 15 looking the plate more securely to the lower border frame. Another modification is shown in Fig. 10 which is similar to the construction of Fig. 3 except that the outside wall 2 is spaced from the turned bead 3 by a flat portion 3'. In this This clamp has a rounded portion 16 and a flat leg portion 17, the roundedportion 16 clamping the fabric 12 securely against the head 3 and the portion .17 clamping the fabric in a similarmanner against the flat leg 3.

This also prevents the fabric coming in con- .tact with the seat support. An advantage of this modified construction is that thdcushion seat has a larger bearing surface in ,contact with the seat support andthe clamp is I not exposed to view when the seat is in use.

It is advantageous to make the lower bor der frame and the plate member of one piece. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated such a construction. In this type of spring support the downwardlyturned leg 1* of the plate member 5 and the outside wall 2 of the lower border frame 1 coincide and form one solid unitary member.

The clamps 13 may be of any suitable construction. A separate clamp may be used for each side of the lower border frame, but I have found that it is advantageous to use a continuous clamp which passes around the corners of the lower border frame and which' gives a continuous clamping act ion. Such a clamp 1s disclosed in my copending applicat1on Ser1al No. 318,082. I may use clamps in which the inside wall is either continuous or formed of a series of teeth in any suitable arrangement. The clamp should be so arranged and constructed as to fit the "lower border frame and securely hold the fabric thereto, advantageously in an air-tight relation. Aside from being exceptionally strong and durable and decidedly inexpensive in construction, the seats are very pleasing in appearance. The seat bottom and clamping strip may be japanned in colors to match the color of the upholstery.

While I have described the invention as particularly relating to cushion seats for automobiles and the like, it is of course not limited thereto, as it is applicable to chair seats,railroadcarseats,mattresses andthelike.

What I claim is p 1. A cushion seat for automobiles and the like comprising upper and lower border frames, the lower border frame having an outside vertical wall and an inside wall spaced therefrom, a continuous clamping strip adapted to engage the outside wall of said lower border frame,'a cover embracing the frames and secured to the lower border frame by said continuous clamping strip, a rigid bottom positioned within said lower border frame and entirely closing the same, said rigid bottom having downwardly turned portions positioned between the outside and the inside walls of said lower border frame and springs inside the cover supported at their lower ends by said rigid bottom and attached at their upper ends to the upper border frame.

2. A cushion seat for automobiles and the like comprising upper and' lower border border frames, the lower border frame consisting of a strip of metal having an outside vertical wall curved inwardly along its bottom edge to form a beaded recess and bent inwardly along its top edge to form a substantially horizontal flange, a metallic bottom plate having downwardly turned portions about its periphery, said bottom plate fitting into and completely closingsaid lower border frame and said downwardly turned portions of the bottom plate resting in said beaded recess of the border frame and held against displacement therefrom by said horizontal flange of the lower border frame, springs between said upper and lower border frames, and a cover embracing the springs and the upper border frame and secured to said lower border frame.

3. A spring frame for cushion seats, comprising a lower border frame having an outside vertical wall and an inside wall spaced therefrom, a rigid bottom positioned within said lower border frame and having downwardly turned portions positioned between the outside and inside walls of said lower border frame, the said rigid bottom closing the bottom of said spring frame and having ribs formed in its face for supporting the springs within the spring frame.

4. In spring cushion seats and the like, a seat bottom comprising a substantially fiat metal plate provided with a depending flange continuous about its periphery, said flange extending below the plane of the seat bottom and curved inwardly and upwardly along its lower edge to form a bead and means on said seat bottom for securing and supporting the springs of the seat. I

5. In a spring frame for cushion seats, a substantially fiat bottom plate closing the entire bottom of the spring frame, a peripheral member extending below the plane of said bottom plate, said member being bent inwardly to form a bead portion of circular cross section and a clamping strip of cross section conforming to that of said peripheral member for clamping the seat fabric around said peripheral member.

6. An air and spring cushion seat comprising a spring frame, springs in said frame, a 40 cover substantially impervious to air embracing the top and sides of said spring frame and secured thereto, a flat bottom plate closing the entire bottoms of the spring frame, said bottom being provided with reinforcing and spring supporting ribs. said spring supportingribs being provided with a series of holes spaced for the reception of the lower ends of the springs in a manner to position and support the snrings,.a periph- 60 eral member extending below the plane of the bottom plate and bent inwardlv to form a substantiallv circular cross section, and a clamping strip of cross section conforming to that of said peripheral member for clamping the cover around said member. said holes in said spring supporting ribs being the sole means of communication between the outside and the interior of the seat and serving also as restricted inlets and outlets for air passing to and from the inside of the seat in a manner to aid the cushioning effect of the springs. v

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature. HARRY E. WOLF. 

